Everything Tell did became engrained into Elleysian culture by one means or another, eventually. The peasant-turned-king was sixteen when he became general of the largest war in their history, and so sixteen has always been a very special age for all the heirs of Tell to come.

The sword he carried in the final battle at Yen was forged for him by the last of the pure blooded Elloi. It was mostly plain and unadorned, but it carried several properties which made it invaluable. It could not be broken. It could not be used in an unjust cause. It could not be used against it's owner. Imagine fighting in a battle and you drop your sword. Your opponent picks it up, but it won't do him any good. He cannot attack you with your own weapon.

It became the custom, at the age of sixteen, for the prince of Yen to receive his own sword from his father, having proved himself worthy of ruling the kingdom. Sometimes these were custom swords built in the king's armory, and sometimes they were heritage swords, once belonging to great kings in their past, and occasionally it was the sword of Tell.

Legend sprang up that whoever carried the sword of Tell would be a great and mighty ruler. As the years went by it was carried increasingly less by young princes who's father's feared to entrust them with it. The less it was used the greater the mystery sprang up around it, and for the most part the great sword of Tell lay unused in a chest in the treasury.

The custom of sword-bearing caught on around the land and soon every king was giving his heir their first swords on their sixteenth birthday. Eventually it became not just the heir, but every king's son, and sometimes even their daughters. Sixteen became the acknowledged coming of age day in Elleys for every rank and walk of life.

The last bearer of the sword of Tell was Janin, the ill-fated heir of King Rynaud II. More than one prophecy pointed to him as the greatest king since Tell himself, and giving him the sword only increased that belief. He did not live long enough to rule, however, and shortly after his death Elleys was plunged into their darkest hour since the wizards had been driven away.

It had been seven generations since the sword had been carried before Janin, and that was by Teslan, a king renknowned for his wisdom and discernment. Teslan and Janin shared much in common, specifically their rather broad interpretation of Tell's laws. Much of the law had been altered by Teslan, as far as he was able to. Even then the power to change the land-law was fading, and by Janin's time it was gone.

The sword was lost in the sacking of Yen, and hasn't been seen since. Some say it was buried with Janin, some say it was carried away to the mortal world by Herene the traitor, and yet others say it still lies buried in the treasure vault of Yen, but if the latter is true it has never been proved, for the sword remains lost.

Swords at sixteen. I like it.

So, if the sword can do no injustice, why where the kings afraid to pass it down?

This is quite interesting.

Have there ever been any quests to find the sword? Did Janin marry and have any children? Why was he unable to fulfill the prophecies? Were they given by false prophets? Is there another Janin to eventually rise?

Let me see if I can remember....

The kings rarely handed down Tell's sword because they did not give it to one unworthy. I'm sure there's a tale about that but it isn't coming to mind.

No, Janin never married or had children. His brother did, who ruled in his stead.

The prophecies were true; in their own varied and confused way. If Janin had lived he would have been the greatest king in Yen since Tell. But the prophecies also spoke of his death...

Here's a bit of insider information for you; Herene does have the sword. He uses it to help Yancy's heir retake his throne in the startling conclusion to the history of Elleys. It's one of those things no one really knows, though. I'm not aware of any questions; although one can never tell for sure.